Covering rooftops in solar panels could meet more than half of Ireland’s total electricity needs, according to an analysis by the EU’s Joint Research Centre (JRC).
The JRC has mapped the potential of utilising 271 million buildings across the European Union.
For the first time, the JRC has collated a detailed database of all of Europe’s rooftops to avoid a “misrepresentation of the characteristics of individual buildings, such as architectural features, roof orientation and shading” in estimating solar potential.
It found that 40 percent of Europe’s electricity needs could be met by “viable” rooftop solar panels. In Ireland, the percentage is even higher, meeting more than half of our electricity demand.
The study also took into account different yields according to climate conditions.
And whilst rainy Ireland will not generate nearly as much electricity per square metre as sunny Spain, the JRC believes there is still a huge untapped potential on Ireland’s roofs.
From 2030, under EU law, all new roofs must be “solar-ready”, meaning they must be “designed and constructed to accommodate the installation of solar energy systems.”
But the JRC report urges a greater effort to retrofit existing roofs.
The experts advise starting with the largest rooftops including factories, supermarkets and farm buildings.
“Large buildings, exceeding 2,000 m² in roof area, could potentially host around 355 GW”, the JRC said.
The Joint Research Centre carries out research to provide independent advice to EU policymakers. The JRC is headed by Irishman, Ciarán Nicholl.